Strategies for Improving Safety at Toll Collection Facilities
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Contact Information: Ken Jacoby at ken.jacoby@dot.gov
Publication Number: FHWA-IF-08-005
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Office of Asset Management
May 2008
Table of Contents
Improving Worker Safety when Accessing Toll Booths
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Providing Direct Access to Booths
Crossing Procedures
Crosswalks
Warnings to Employees
Garments for Improved Worker Visibility
Maintenance and Lane Closures
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Reducing Worker Exposure to the Environment
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Mitigating Air Quality Issues
Mitigating Excessive Noise Levels
Personal Protective Equipment
Reducing Slips, Trips, and Falls
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Improving Ergonomics for Workers
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Equipment
Booth Design
Policies and Procedures
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Reducing Worker Risk of Assault
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Reducing Unsafe Merging and Lane Changing
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Plaza Configuration
Channelization of Traffic
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Reducing Speeding
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Policies and Enforcement
Physical Treatments
Other Mitigation Strategies
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Reducing Driver Confusion and Driver Inattention
The Challenge
Potential Mitigation Strategies
Clearly Identifying ETC Lanes
Informing Motorists of Changing Conditions
Informing Motorists of Lane Closures
Mitigating Sensory Overload
Mitigating Driver Inattention
Providing Advance Information to Motorists
Increasing Conspicuity of Facilities and Workers
Reducing the Incidence of Vehicles Stopping or Backing Up in High-Speed
Lanes
Strategy Rankings, Effectiveness, and Constraints
Overarching Safety Strategies
Training
Safety Culture
Focus on Safety for Maintenance Staff
Safety Committees
Safety Audits
Employee Safety Meetings
Safety Award Programs
Safety Incentive Programs
Safety Awareness Programs
Maintaining Safety While Using Open Road Tolling
Conclusions
List of Figures
Figure 1. Tunnels Provide Access to Booths without Exposure to Traffic
Figure 2. Handheld Stop Sign Aids Collector in Crossing Travel Lanes
Figure 3. Clear Plastic Shoulder Bag for Collectors to Use when Crossing
Figure 4. Booths can Create a Visual Obstacle when Crossing
Figure 5. Painted Crosswalk for Workers
Figure 6. ManSaver™ Safety Bar
Figure 7. Signs and Stickers in Plaza Building and Toll Booth Remind Workers about Safety
Figure 8. Various Signs and Markings Remind Collectors of the Dangers of Crossing Lanes
Figure 9. Safety Smock
Figure 10. Retroreflective Jacket
Figure 11. Crampons Can Help Collectors Avoid Slips in Snowy and Icy Conditions
Figure 12. Cash Bags Can Facilitate Hands-Free Crossing
Figure 13. Brightly Colored Curbing in the Crossing Area Can Reduce Trips
Figure 14. Chair with Circular Foot Rest
Figure 15. Anti-Fatigue Mat
Figure 16. Convex Mirrors Can Reduce Twisting and Turning for Collectors
Figure 17. Denver E-470's Adjustable Height Terminal
Figure 18. Bumped Out Dutch Doors Can Reduce Twisting and Turning for Collectors
Figure 19. Dedicated ETC Lanes Positioned at Both Sides of a Plaza
Figure 20. Concrete Barriers and Attenuators Physically Separate Traffic Upstream of an Illinois Tollway Plaza
Figure 21. Pavement Markings and Cones Delay Merging Downstream at the Port Authority of NY & NJ 's Holland Tunnel Plaza
Figure 22. Sign Notifying Motorists that Plaza Is Photo Enforced
Figure 23. Enforcement Presence at an MTA Plaza
Figure 24. Rumble Strips
Figure 25. The Use of Transverse Pavement Markings to Reduce Speeding
Figure 26. Speed Limits Are Posted at Each Lane To Reinforce Speed Limits
Figure 27. Pavement Markings Reinforce the Speed Limit in Dedicated ETC Lanes
Figure 28. The Use of Pavement Markings To Identify Dedicated-ETC Lanes
Figure 29. Dynamic Signs Display Current ETC Lane Numbers at a NYS Thruway Plaza
Figure 30. Options for Conveying a Closed Lane to Motorists
Figure 31. Gates in Use to Indicate that a Lane is Closed
Figure 32. One Option for Conveying that Cash Is Accepted in All Lanes
Figure 33. "DO NOT BACK UP" Sign to Reduce Unsafe Motorist Behavior
Figure 34. Floor Mat in Plaza Building Reminds Employees to "Think Safety"
Figure 35. Tracking Employee Performance Publicly can Be an Incentive for Employees to Follow Safety Procedures
Figure 36. Sign in Plaza Office Reminds Employees about Safety Record
Figure 37. Open-Road Tolling in Illinois
Figure 38. Florida Turnpike's Overhead Gantry for ORT Allows for Maintenance Activities without Road Closure
List of Tables
Table 1. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Issues Associated with Worker Exposure to Vehicles
Table 2. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Issues Associated with the Worker Environment
Table 3. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Issues Associated with Ergonomics
Table 4. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Assault
Table 5. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Issues Associated with Merging and Lane-Changing Behavior
Table 6. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Challenges Associated with Speeding
Table 7. Potential Strategies to Mitigate Safety Challenges Associated with Driver Confusion and Driver Inattention
